When my brother-in-law was visiting from Italy and we took him for a ride in my then-new Prius, he observed that diesels are a better solution, at least in Europe, in that they get high mileage and are simpler machines.
True enough, but there's this little thing called "air pollution"….
Unless you live in California or some other state that generates most of its electricity with natural gas and/or renewables, you'd be powering your Beetle with coal.
I've wondered that too…Diesel-electric = railroad locomotive on rubber tires, which for railroad buffs like me would be living the dream. But starting Diesels is hard owing to the high (>20:1) compression required to do the ignition, as you say. Plus now we learn that whatever we thought was clean about Diesels may have been fake. Lotsa particulates too; kids living near Riverside are showing higher rates of asthma because (maybe) of the high concentration of warehouse/distribution/freeways/railroads there.
Murilee Martin, a fine writer about automotive topics if you don't already know if him, says that all electric-powered vehicles have the capability for neck-snapping acceleration from rest (because electric motors produce maximum torque at zero RPM), but manufacturers such as Toyota dial that down in the software, presumably so they don't need such strong half-shafts, CV joints and other drivetrain components. Maybe the next generation Prius will do awesome burnouts.
Just don't tell me that testing done using Vomiting Larry is suspect.
Only if Larry's test results in the shop are different from on the road.
So I should quit walking to work and drive the two blocks?
Well, I can't say I'm surprised.
When my brother-in-law was visiting from Italy and we took him for a ride in my then-new Prius, he observed that diesels are a better solution, at least in Europe, in that they get high mileage and are simpler machines.
True enough, but there's this little thing called "air pollution"….
Going for the [ X-over ] or waiting for the [ Model 3 ]?
Unless you live in California or some other state that generates most of its electricity with natural gas and/or renewables, you'd be powering your Beetle with coal.
I've wondered that too…Diesel-electric = railroad locomotive on rubber tires, which for railroad buffs like me would be living the dream. But starting Diesels is hard owing to the high (>20:1) compression required to do the ignition, as you say. Plus now we learn that whatever we thought was clean about Diesels may have been fake. Lotsa particulates too; kids living near Riverside are showing higher rates of asthma because (maybe) of the high concentration of warehouse/distribution/freeways/railroads there.
Murilee Martin, a fine writer about automotive topics if you don't already know if him, says that all electric-powered vehicles have the capability for neck-snapping acceleration from rest (because electric motors produce maximum torque at zero RPM), but manufacturers such as Toyota dial that down in the software, presumably so they don't need such strong half-shafts, CV joints and other drivetrain components. Maybe the next generation Prius will do awesome burnouts.